{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/co-signer","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/co-signer","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"co-signer","term":"Co-signer","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A co-signer is someone who agrees to be equally responsible for a loan repayment. For an SBA loan, they are signing on with you, not just guaranteeing your debt.","what_it_means":"If your personal credit or income alone isn't strong enough, a lender might require a co-signer. This person becomes a co-borrower, meaning they have the same legal obligation to repay the loan as you do. Ensure they understand the full implications before involving them.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/co-signer","official_sources":[{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"}],"related":[{"slug":"co-applicant","term":"Co-applicant","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/co-applicant"},{"slug":"jointly-and-severally-liable","term":"Jointly and Severally Liable","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/jointly-and-severally-liable"},{"slug":"personal-guarantee","term":"Personal guarantee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantee"},{"slug":"guaranty","term":"Guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/guaranty"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Is the SBA like a co-signer for my business loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/is-the-sba-like-a-co-signer-for-my-business-loan"},{"question":"What impact does a co-signer on my personal guaranty have on the SBA 7(a) loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-impact-does-a-co-signer-on-my-personal-guaranty-have-on-the-sba-7-a-loan-approval"},{"question":"What if my spouse is a co-signer on a personal asset offered as collateral but not an owner?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-my-spouse-is-a-co-signer-on-a-personal-asset-offered-as-collateral-but-not-an-owne"},{"question":"What happens if a major co-owner or guarantor has a recent bankruptcy on their personal credit?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-happens-if-a-major-co-owner-or-guarantor-has-a-recent-bankruptcy-on-their-personal-cr"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan be used to purchase a business that is structured as a co-op?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-be-used-to-purchase-a-business-that-is-structured-as-a-co-op"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan finance the entire $500,000 purchase price for buying out a co-owner?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-finance-the-entire-500-000-purchase-price-for-buying-out-a-co-owner"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Co-signer","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/co-signer","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}